J.K. Rowling is widely criticized for spreading harmful anti-trans rhetoric and funding hatred.
She is reportedly visiting Metro Vancouver aboard her superyacht Samsara, which is currently at anchor near Keats Island.
the morning of August 5 2025
Publicly available AIS tracks show the yacht visiting a number of locations on BC’s coast over recent days.
Concerned person reached out to me and shared with me that Rowling was sighted walking her dog on a small island off Vancouver Island. Her presence there deeply upset members of the local community.
Whereas it is true even bigots need to live their lives, they do not necessarily have a right to vacation abroad in Canada while doing so.
As a transgender Canadian and human rights advocate, I am deeply troubled by Rowling’s presence in our country and where I live.
Considering the increasing normalization of transphobia and the very real consequences this has for the safety and dignity of Canadians who Rowling and her allies target, I am confused how she could even enter Canada.
Notable figures found inadmissible to Canada for inciting hatred include Fred Phelps and members of the Westboro Baptist Church (2008, 2012), Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer (2013), several La Meute-affiliated speakers (2018), Jim Rizoli (2015), and David Icke (2023).
Rowling’s influence has emboldened anti-trans movements worldwide – on grounds that are explicitly prohibited here, and I am deeply concerned her presence in Metro Vancouver will bring a wave of anti-transgender hate propaganda here.
Worryingly, very soon after I mentioned Rowling’s presence in BC on social media using publicly available information and semi-ironically invited Rowling over for dinner and a chat, at least two publications published articles targeting me with defamatory content and damaging disinformation.
My advisors tell me these far-right hit pieces meet the Canadian test for incitement of hatred on the basis of explicitly-prohibited grounds. IMHO this is precisely why Canada needs Online Harms law, but that’s for another time.
The current situation raises important public safety concerns and it’s a shame this is how it is developing as Rowling and I could have had a meaningful conversation about fear, about safety, and about how we want to protect our communities from harm before Canada expels her.
Instead, sadly, I now have concerns about my own safety because the UK freely enabled dangerous behaviour.
Canada needs to be be safe for everyone, including anyone warning the public of dangerous persons. Raising a red flag that someone whose conduct is demonstrably harmful to people because of our gender identity or expression is among us for past our border security is a public service, after all.
I note that while Rowling’s vessel has been in BC waters, Rowling has been writing online urging discrimination that is explicitly prohibited in Canada.
I further worry that Rowling could be preparing to participate in an event intendes to cause harm and hurt to Canadians and that this could disrupt our peace. These do seem to pop up like weeds when bigots appear among us.
All together, does this not raise admissibility concerns under sections 19 and 36 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act? I worry it does.
IRCC and Minister Gary Anandasangaree, please clarify the standards applied to foreign visitors to Canada whose public actions and statements have included repeatedly inciting hatred or contributing to discrimination that is explicitly prohibited in Canada.
I urge Canadians to take a stand together urging our government to expel anyone visitor who enters this country if they are determined to incite hatred or to discriminate against anyone on grounds that are explicitly prohibited in Canada.
I request that a review be initiated by the Government of Canada, by CBSA, and by IRCC to evaluate JK Rowling’s admissibility into Canada.
I intend to file a complaint requesting that the RCMP review whether Rowling has been inciting hatred on explicitly-prohibited grounds while present in Canada and to take appropriate action if necessary.
If Canada’s government and institutions are serious about protecting vulnerable communities and upholding their commitments to inclusion and human rights, we must ask hard questions even when it’s uncomfortable to do so.
Canada needs to ensure our borders are closed to anyone who amplifies hate or helps harm others because of who they are.
JK Rowling should be expelled from Canada immediately.
Morgane Oger 
Leave a comment